Reducing sugar-based sulfide scavengers and methods of use in subterranean operations

Abstract

Improved methods and additives for eliminating or reducing concentrations of hydrogen sulfide or soluble sulfide ions for use in subterranean formations and fluids are provided. In one embodiment, the methods comprise: providing a treatment fluid comprising a base liquid and a sulfide scavenging additive comprising one or more reducing sugars; introducing the treatment fluid into at least a portion of a subterranean formation; and allowing at least a portion of the sulfide scavenging additive to interact with hydrogen sulfide or sulfide ions present in the treatment fluid to produce a precipitate comprising one or more sulfur species.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 providing a treatment fluid comprising a base liquid and a sulfide scavenging additive comprising one or more reducing sugars;   introducing the treatment fluid into at least a portion of a subterranean formation; and   allowing at least a portion of the sulfide scavenging additive to interact with hydrogen sulfide or sulfide ions present in the treatment fluid to produce a precipitate comprising one or more sulfur species.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the base liquid comprises an aqueous liquid. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the treatment fluid comprises a basic solution. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the treatment fluid is substantially free of aldehydes other than aldehydes formed by the reducing sugars dissolved in the basic solution. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pH of the treatment fluid is above 8. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein one or more metal ions is chelated with the one or more reducing sugars. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the one or more metal ions interact with the hydrogen sulfide or sulfide ions to produce a precipitate comprising one or more metal sulfides. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the sulfide scavenging additive comprises ferric fructose. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising adding an additional amount of a sulfide scavenging additive comprising one or more reducing sugars to the treatment fluid after the treatment fluid has been introduced into at least a portion of a subterranean formation. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the treatment fluid comprises a drilling fluid; and 
 the method further comprises using the drilling fluid to drill at least a portion of a well bore penetrating at least a portion of the subterranean formation. 
 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 providing a treatment fluid comprising a base liquid and a sulfide scavenging additive comprising one or more reducing sugars chelated with one or more metal ions;   introducing the treatment fluid into at least a portion of a subterranean formation;   allowing at least one of the metal ions to interact with hydrogen sulfide or sulfide ions present in the treatment fluid to produce a first product comprising one or more metal sulfides; and   allowing the reducing sugar to interact with hydrogen sulfide or sulfide ions present in the treatment fluid to produce a second product comprising one or more sulfur species.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the base liquid comprises an aqueous liquid. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the pH of the treatment fluid is above 8. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the sulfur species in the second product are different from the metal sulfides in the first product. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising removing the first or second products from the treatment fluid in the form of a precipitate. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising adding an additional amount of a sulfide scavenging additive comprising one or more reducing sugars to the treatment fluid after the treatment fluid has been introduced into at least a portion of a subterranean formation. 
     
     
         17 . A method of treating a fluid comprising a first concentration of hydrogen sulfide or sulfide ions, the method comprising:
 adding a sulfide scavenging additive comprising one or more reducing sugars to the fluid; and   allowing at least a portion of the sulfide scavenging additive to interact with at least a portion of the hydrogen sulfide or sulfide ions in the fluid to reduce the concentration of hydrogen sulfide or sulfide ions to a second concentration that is lower than the first concentration.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the fluid comprises an aqueous liquid. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the pH of the fluid is above 8. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the fluid is present in at least a portion of a subterranean formation.